Bill to name U.S. 40 for former Kirkersville chief gets House approval

Kirkersville community members gather outside the Kirkersville Police Department on the one year anniversary of the shooting at Pine Kirk. The lives of Police Chief Eric DiSario, Marlina Medrano and Cindy Krantz were remembered and a bench with Chief DiSario's name was dedicated outside the police department.(Photo11: Jessica Phelps/The Advocate)Buy Photo

KIRKERSVILLE - A bill to rename a section of U.S. 40 for former Kirkersville Police Chief Steven Eric DiSario has brought the naming one step closer to becoming reality.

The bill, introduced by State Senator Jay Hottinger, was voted on by the Ohio House of Representatives today as part of House Bill 86.

The proposal would rename a portion of U.S. 40 through Kirkersville "Steven Eric DiSario Memorial Highway."

DiSario was shot and killed May 12, 2017, in the line of duty responding to a call of a man with a gun in the area of the Pine Kirk Nursing Home. He had been the Chief of the Kirkersville Police Department for about three weeks at the time of his death.

Hottinger had introduced a similar proposal last year that stalled at the end of the General Assembly's session.

Hottinger said Wednesday the delay was due to misinformation, but the more important thing is that the proposal is moving forward now.

"The Chief will be memorialized and all who pass through Kirkersville on Route 40 in the very near future will remember that fateful day and his heroic sacrifice," he said.

Hottinger said DiSario's wife is "grateful" the proposal is progressing. It will return to the senate for approval of a small change before heading to Governor John Kasich's desk.